The fight against illegal fishing in Lake Victoria is gaining further momentum as fishermen themselves start confiscating, arresting illegal fishers without compromise.
More than 300 people have so far been arrested in the Kalangala waters engaging in illegal fishing despite the launch on a crack down in March this year.
The launch was initiated after President Museveni disbanded the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit and reassigned roles to the UPDF Marines of the 155 battalion.
Major. Joseph Ssebukera was appointed the Commandant of the battalion as President trasnferred major roles in the illegal fishing fight to the local population.
The Inspector General of the Armed Forces, also Deputy CDF Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding was offered the overrall supervision role together with Millitary intelligence Director Maj. Gen. Richard Otto.
Kalangala RDC Fred Badda, his team, just like RDCs in island districts were given the supervision role for each district together with the District and the subsidiary task forces.
Upon inception of the duties, the team started sensitizing Ugandans against illegal fishing. Also all illegal fishing gear was burnt by the different task forces.
“The remaining illegal fishing gear will be confiscated and all owners of such gears will be arrested instantly,” Badda told fishermen.
However, reports of fishermen coming from bordering island districts were recieved and instantly arrested.
The remaining illegal fishing gear and route managers engaging in transporting immature fish were also arrested and taken to prison.
“We are also aware of the remaining route managers who continue engaging in transporting immature fish. We are monitoring and are about to arrest them, red handed. The law will take its course.” Badda said.
One and a half months later, reports of fish returning to the different fishing zones within the districts have been recieved in places such as Bufumira, Mazinga, Kyamuswa and the Bujjumba County area.
The Chairperson of the Kalangala District Fisheries Task Force Mr. Patrick Musenda said, despite the efforts, there remains a sizable number of people especially at Landing sites who continue to engage in the bad practices.
Mr. Musenda said, the UPDF Marines Commander in Kalangala is fighting to ensure that all such people are immediately arrested and taken to court for prosecution.
Lujjaabwa landing site, the hub to a sizable number of illegal fishers and route managers was visited on Sunday this week and the remaining illegal fishing gear were burnt down.
Last month, more than 9 tones of immature fish in Kalangala was arrested in a boat from Lujjaabwa enroute Masaka for later transportation to the Eastern DRC fish market.
